Postcards From Daytona - MotoAmerica

We had a really great time at round one of the 2026 MotoAmerica Championship. And, if you were there, too, or if you watched our coverage on MotoAmerica Live+ and/or Samsung TV Plus, we hope you had a great time, as well..

Here are some postcards we brought back from Daytona Interntional Speedway and the 84th running of the DAYTONA 200. All images were created by the inimitable Brian J. Nelson, so check them out:

Josh Herrin got Troy Lee himself to paint Scott Russell’s iconic “Screamin’ Chief” design on his KYT helmet, and it proved to be a prophetic move as Herrin overcame a lot of adversity to win his fourth-consecutive Daytona 200 and move into a tie with “Mr. Daytona” Russell and “The Other Mr. Daytona” Miguel Duhamel as the only three five-time winners of the “Great American Motorcycle Race.”

If you didn’t know the engine displacement of the Triumph motorcycle that Isle of Man legend Peter Hickman raced in this year’s Daytona 200, the “765” number plates on his bike gave you a solid clue.

Jake Lewis has won two out of the last three Mission Super Hooligan National Championship races he’s competed in at Daytona, and he displayed maximum Hooliganism with a gaudy wheelie on the cool-down lap after he took the checkers.

At 49 years old and against a screaming horde of knee-biting youngsters, OG 2018 Twins Cup Champion Chris Parrish put his Ghetto Customs Aprilia on the pole at Daytona.

Airheads on parade. The three BMW R 90 S motorcycles that raced in the world’s very first Superbike race returned to the high banks 50 years later.

A special race like the DAYTONA 200 requires special equipment like these quick-fill gas cans that, for the first time in history, were needed thrice in this year’s three-pit-stop race.

Nice rack.

Mission King Of The Baggers Challenge winner Hayden Gillim speaks softly and carries a big check.

All’s fair in love and Mission King Of The Baggers, isn’t that right, former class champions Troy Herfoss and Kyle Wyman?

Darryn Binder never binned it in his very first DAYTONA 200, finishing just off the podium in fourth, and the Saffer and his crew also won the DAYTONA 200 Pit Stop Challenge.

“Do I make you Horney, baby?” Racer Kevin Horney (nice ‘stache, Kev) held the umbrella on the starting grid for DAYTONA 200 first-timer Avery Dreher (left).

Legendary race starter Bobby Lemming (left) poses with legendary announcer Pat Gonsalves (center) and legendary artist Lee Bivens (right) who created a commemorative painting right on pit lane of the late, legendary announcer Richard Chambers.

Mas tequila for DAYTONA 200 winner Herrin, and make it Desnuda Organic Tequila while you’re at it.

The J&P Cycles/Motul/Vance & Hines Factory Indian team had an epic Daytona with Gillim and Herfoss both winning Mission King Of The Baggers races and Rocco Landers (left) finishing on the podium in race two. Plus, all three riders got big checks.

Jersey Boy Gus Rodio also had a Daytona 200 to remember. He finished 10th in the DAYTONA 200 on his Ducati Panigale v2 and improved to fifth in each of the two Mission Super Hooligan races at Daytona aboard his Ducati Streetfighter V2.

Sean Bice

Tags: 50 Years Of Superbike Racing, Avery Dreher, BMW Motorrad USA, BMW R 90 S, chris parrish, Darryn Binder, DAYTONA 200, Daytona International Speedway, Gus Rodio, hayden gillim, jake lewis, josh herrin, kevin horney, kyle wyman, Lee Bivens, Pat Gonsalves, Peter Hickman, Richard Chambers, Rocco Landers, scott russell, troy herfoss

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